What's on Tap:  Second-seeded Minnesota State faces the winner of sixth-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State and third-seeded Missouri Western State in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Central Region Tournament at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday at The Pitch.
 
Looking Back at Last Week: Minnesota State (17-2-2) claimed its sixth Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament title to earn an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament. In their first match in the conference tournament, the Mavericks tied Minnesota Duluth 1-1 on Wednesday at The Pitch. The Mavericks advanced by winning the shootout 8-7 in nine rounds. Minnesota State then routed University of Mary 6-0 in the tournament semifinal match at the Pitch on Friday to advance to Sunday's final. In the final, Minnesota State shut out Augustana 2-0 to punch its ticket to the 2017 NCAA DII Women's Soccer Championship and earn the second seed in the Central Regional. 
 
The Champs are Here: The Mavericks won both the NSIC regular season and postseason championships this season. The regular season title is the Mavericks' fifth since joining the NSIC in 2008 and the first since 2015. Minnesota State has won six NSIC Tournament titles.
 
Tournament Time: The Mavericks, who are making their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 12th overall, are 6-10-3 in NCAA Tournament play. Last season, Minnesota State made the second round of the NCAA Tournament where it tied Fort Hays State 2-2, before losing 4-2 in a shootout.
 
NSIC All-Tournament Team: Six Mavericks were named to the 2017 NSIC Soccer All-Tournament Team. They are: junior goalkeeper Taylor Livermore, sophomore midfielder Alesha Duccini, sophomore forward Morgan Cottew, junior defender Abby Hausken, freshman forward Molly Sarafolean and senior midfielder Lexi Pszanka. In addition, Duccini was named the NSIC Tournament MVP.
 
All-NSIC: Junior midfielder Maddy Burandt, sophomore midfielder Alesha Duccini, senior forward Jenny Hoerter and senior defender Abby Nordeen were named to the 2017 NSIC Soccer All-Conference First Team, while junior defender Abby Hausken and senior midfielder Lexi Pszanka earned second team honors.
 
Dominant Defense: Minnesota State's defense has been one of the most proficient at shutting down opposing offenses in NCAA Division II this season. Minnesota State is tied for second in the nation in shutout percentage (.762) and shutouts (16), and fifth in goals against average (0.369). Earlier this season, Minnesota State recorded a program record 11 consecutive shutouts, which tied for the seventh-longest shutout streak in NCAA Division II women's soccer history. From the second goal of the match with then-No. 14 ranked Grand Valley State on Sept. 10 to when University of Mary scored against the Mavericks on Oct. 21, the Mavericks played over 1,045 minutes without allowing a goal.
 
In Net: Junior goalkeeper Taylor Livermore (10-1-1) has tallied 10 shutouts this season. Livermore ranks third in NCAA Division II in save percentage (.932) and goals against average (.242). Sophomore goalkeeper Ryann Rydeen (7-0-1) has garnered six shutouts on the season.
 
Balanced Attack: The Mavericks' 53 goals have been scored by 16 different student-athletes, including 10 multi-goal scorers. Eight different Mavericks have tallied at least 10 points on the season. Senior midfielder Jenny Hoerter leads the Mavericks in goals (8), assists (8) and points (24). Junior forward Lauren Kizlik has tallied six goals and six assists for 18 points, and freshman forward Molly Sarafolean has garnered seven goals and one assist for 15 points. Senior midfielder Lexi Pszanka leads the Mavericks in game-winning goals with four and sophomore midfielder Alesha Duccini is second with three.  
 
Scouting Missouri Western State: The third-seeded Griffons (17-4-0) are making the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Missouri Western State, which lost to Central Region No. 1-seed Central Missouri 4-1 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament championship match, has had more than 30 individual and team records broken this season. Three of the Griffons' four losses have come against unbeaten Central Missouri.
 
The Griffons are paced on offense by junior forward Cassidy Menke, who leads the team in goals (15), points (33) and shots (119). Senior forward Sydney Cluck leads the team with eight assists, while adding nine goals for 26 points.   
 
Scouting Southwestern Oklahoma State: The Bulldogs (12-4-3) are making the second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after winning the Great American Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated GAC Regular Season Champion Oklahoma Baptist 3-2 in the championship match.
 
Sophomore forward Alimata Rabo is a talented-offensive player — leading NCAA Division II women's soccer this season in goals (27), assists (12) and points (66). The Bulldogs' second-leading scorer is sophomore forward Sandra Nabweteme, who has tallied 13 goals and four assists for 30 points.